This video is scary and hilarious at the same time.
I counted 7 false statements in the first two sentences.
(Straw Man Argument-- exaggerate the opposition's position. Attack and destroy the cartoon characterization of the opposition and claim victory.)
I consider myself an American -- I grew up in this great nation and I love this great nation. I am not first and foremost a Texan or an Ohioan. These people deny the importance of the nation and a national government.
The original 13 states are legacies of British colonial policy. I have no loyalty to any of the states but only to the nation.
There are so many outright lies and falsifications in this piece that it is simply breathtaking.
Art 1 Section 8 lists 17 powers of the Legislative Branch of Government. These guys think that these specific powers determine the exact scope and limit of federal authority.
Blame it all on George Mason of Virginia. In the final days of the constitution convention he proposed a Bill of Rights. No one took it seriously until the states balked at ratification.
It was Mason's proposal to put a Bill of Rights in the Constitution that made the Federal Government the all-powerful source of rights. (More below)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_MasonThey referred to Thomas Jefferson many times -- he opposed the banking system and a strong federal government.
Never any mention of John C. Calhoun -- the great proponent of the nullification and never any mention of the civil war that we all thought settled this matter once and for all.
How come they never mentioned George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams and other supporters of a strong national government?
Straw Man Argument Alert
At 5:03 in the video one of the guest says that the federal side is represented by Katie Couric.
There are two sides to this issue but the other side is represented by people like George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and John Adams. Using Couric to represent the federalist side is a creating a Straw Man.
How did the Bill of Rights make the central government the seat of government power?
Back to George Mason.
There are two ways of looking at rights.
The old way was that all rights belong to the king. You force the king to give up some rights and give them to the aristocracy or to the people.
The new way, beginning with the American Revolution, was that all rights belong to the people. The people give limited authority to the government.
The Bill of Rights took the nation back to the old way of looking at rights. The government will guarantee certain rights for the people. The implication is that government is the source of rights.
Columbus Townhall > Forum > Politics > State (Moderators: Peter, CTH Public Relations)
Topic: 10th Amendment Watch!
